Cholinergic mechanisms and memory of an inhibitory avoidance task in mice

BOCCIA MM; BLAKE MG; COELHO TM; ACOSTA GB; BARATTI CM

Tandil, Argentina

Congreso; XXXIV Reunión Científica Anual de la Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE); 2002

Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE)

Administration of hemicholinium-3 (HC-3), an inhibitory of high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) (1.0 ug/mice, icv) when given either immediately after training or 60 min before the retention test, impaired retention performance of one trial step-through inhibitory avoidance task in mice. In parallel with the behavioral deficit, HC-3 decreased the activity of HACU in hippocampus when injected 60 min before the retention test, but not when was given immediately after training and performance was evaluated 48 hs later. Moreover, the anticholinergic drug atropine (1.0 mg/kg, ip) did not modify retention, however, it was able to reduce the enhancement of retention induced by post-training injections of the anticholinesterase physostigmine (150 ug/kg, ip). These findings suggest that cholinergic mechanisms are involved not only on memory consolidation, but also on memory retrieval of an inhibitory avoidance response in mice.